Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Phylum: Ciliophora.
• Class: Kinetofragminophera.
• Genus: Balantidium.

Active Forms

Resting Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Commensal in large intestine of pigs.

Lifecycle

• Reproduces by binary fission.
• Conjugation, a temporary attachment of 2 individuals during which nuclear material is exchanged, also occurs.
• Cysts are formed which are passed in the feces.
• New hosts are infected by ingestion of cysts.

Transmission

• Contamination of fingers and food with pig feces.
• Cysts usual source of infection but trophozoites possible source if contamination gross.

Pathological effects

• Occasional disease in pigs. Invasion mucosa → ulceration, associated with mild to severe enteritis.
• Dysentery, hemorrhage and death possible.
• Zoonosis in man.
• Invasion → ulceration associated with dysentery. Spread to other tissues, eg liver rare.
• May cause infections in higher primates in zoos. Spreads between animals.
• Occasionally cause infection in other animals.

Other Host Effects

• Primary host pig, normally commensal.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Metronidazole Metronidazole.

Control via environment

• Hygiene precautions to avoid contamination of food with, or direct contact with, pig feces.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Munen E, Otsyula M, Mbaabu D A et al (1998) Helminth and protozoan gastrointestinal tract parasites in captive and wild-trapped African non-human primates. Vet Parasitol 78 (3), 195-201 PubMed.
• Weiss L M & Keohane E M (1997) The uncommon gastrointestinal Protozoa: Microsporidia, Blastocystis, Isospora, Dientamoeba and Balantidium. Curr Clin Top Infect Dis​ 17, 147-187 PubMed.
• Dubey J P (1993) Intestinal protozoa infections. Vet Clin North America Small Anim Pract 23 (1), 37-55 PubMed.
• Varma S & Malik P D (1976) The feeding habits of Balantidium coli. Vet Rec 99 (13), 256 PubMed.